1981 Chevy C10 Shortbed Scottsdale 5.7l Corvette Tpi Engine And Transmission on 2040-cars

I bought this 1981 Chevy C10 shortbed about 20 years ago. It is the Scottsdale model, which is below the Silverado.   It was a very clean truck with low mileage, about 40k, as I remember.  It had a 305 engine and Turbo 350 transmission.  It ran fine, but lacked power, plus it did not get very good gas mileage, about 14 on the road.  I replaced the engine with a 350 and the transmission with a 700R4, overdrive.  The performance was much better, as was the mpg.

I have never driven the truck very much, other than on trips.  We drove it to Washington to tow back a 55 Tbird I had purchased on e-bay.  Another time to northern CA for a 57 Ford station wagon, that I wound up driving back as U-Haul would not rent me a car trailer for a half ton truck.

A friend of mine had a tow company and about 15 years ago had a wrecked 90 Corvette in his yard.  He sold me the L98 tpi engine and 700r trans out of it.  It had struck a pole backwards, totaling out the rear.  I kept this engine and trans for a couple of years, with the plan of putting it in the truck.  In California, we have a bi-annual smog inspection where we have to get a smog certificate before we can renew our registration every other year for cars newer than 1974.  In the 90’s the legislature passed a law that vehicles over 30 years old would not be required to do the bi-annual smog check.  So, in 2009, after what I thought was the last smog inspection, I changed to engine and transmission to the ones I had taken out of the Corvette using a Painless Wiring kit.  I had to install a high pressure in-line fuel pump and filter and return lines to the tanks.  Unfortunately, CA changed their minds and the law, again required the bi-annual inspection.  The next time my registration came due, I had to go to the California Vehicle Inspection Referee, to show the engine change.  After a couple of trips to the referee, I was given a new smog sticker for the engine change.  This sticker is on the door and shows the car to be smogged as a 1991 Chevy.  I had taken the truck to Turbo City where a custom chip was made for the computer.  I have had the truck smog checked several times since then.

The engine is a stock Corvette 350 c.i. tuned port injection engine with speed density (MAP) sensor.  I freshened it up with new main and rod bearings and timing chain.  I also replaced the stock L98 tpi cam with a roller cam out of a Chevy Ram Jet crate motor.  I did not want to have problems with the computer, nor smog check, and this cam works.  The stock tpi system would run out of air over 4,000 rpm, so I replaced the intake system with Edelbrock siamesed runners and intake manifold.  The plenum was enlarged to match the runners and I bought a 58mm throttle body.

To add a little more power, I installed new roller rockers, 1.6:1 on the intake and 1.5:1 on the exhaust.  I had to buy taller valve covers to clear the roller rockers.  It uses the stock Corvette exhaust manifolds, because of the smog police, but are almost like block hugger headers.  To get the Corvette 700r4 trans to work, I had to find a special tail housing with a transmission mounting boss, as the Corvette uses a large torque tube attaching it to the rear end.

My wife and I take trips to Texas where she looks for antiques.  Each time we went, she would fill whatever car we drove, so I suggested that the next time we went on such a buying trip, we take the truck.  Originally the truck had a canvas tonneau cover that snapped to the sides of the bed, which I still have.  I found a camper shell for the truck.  We have made several trips to Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington with the truck.  The most recent was late last year.  These are the only times that any mileage is put on the truck, which now shows about 88k, which is original as far as I know.  I am confident that the mileage was correct when I bought it.  The truck now gets close to 20 mpg on the highway, if you drive conservatively.

The truck has dual side tanks, holding 16 gallons each.  The dash switch for the tanks works and also changes the gauge to the tank being used.  The truck has power steering, with the Corvette pump and remote reservoir.  It has power disc brakes and air conditioning.  The a/c works fine and still uses R12 gas.  It will leak down some over the winter and I have to top it off before my wife will go anywhere in it.  It does not have power windows, nor power door locks.  It has the original 15x8 Rally wheels.  The front tires are a year old, and the rears are over 10, but still have good tread.

It is an original California truck as it has the old style blue with yellow numbered license plates issued to it when new. The truck has been painted twice for me.  The last time was 2 years ago.  I had the white camper painted the same pewter gray as the truck.  There was a small amount of rust in the rear area behind one of the rear tires, and that was all the rust.  I know that it has not been in an accident since I have had it and I never found any signs of accident damage, and I have been all over this truck many times.

I really had no plans to sell the truck as it works great for my needs, but things change.  I am looking to downsize and instead of having a daily driver and a weekend truck, I want to have just one vehicle.  I would not hesitate to drive this truck anywhere in the US.  It has been a great truck for me.  If no one meets my reserve, I will just keep it.

Please ask any questions you may have, giving me enough time to respond.  Thanks for looking and good luck bidding